Photographic printing machine for at least two different sizes of negative and positive



Dec. 20, 1966 H. MEY 3,292,485

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE FOR AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT I SIZES OF NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE Filed March 9, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 20, 1966 H. MEY 3,292,485 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE FOR AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT SIZES OF NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE Filed March 9, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 20, 1966 Filed March 9, 1964 SIZES OF NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE FOR AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

United States Patent 3,292,485 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE FOR AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT SIZES OF NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE Hansjuerg Mey, Oberengstringen, Switzerland, assignor to Gretag Aktiengesellschaft, Regensdorf, Switzerland Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,365 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Mar. 13, 1963, 3,184/63 Claims. (CI. 88-24) This invention relates to a photographic printing machine for at least two different sizes of negative and positive, wherein the source of projection light illuminates through a preferably adjustable condenser optical system the negative plane, which is equipped with adjustable masks, or the mask field adjusted at any given moment, while each of the negative mask shapes can optionally be reproduced in the printing plane, which is likewise equipped with adjustable masks, by means of interchangeable lenses or by means of a single lens with optionally adjustable distances between negative plane, lens, and printing plane, and wherein the positive mask field ad'- justed at any given moment lies in the path of printing material which is in the form of a strip and which is inserted into a transport device adapted to be driven by a motor and having a movement step length which can be adjusted at will.

Proposed printing machines of this type are in most cases so extensively automated that only a few manipulations are required to print a picture. Complications occur however when sizes have to be changed. This may relate to the change of the negative size and/or to a change of the desired positive size, that is to say of the size of the print. To do this the following adjustments must be made: The changing of the lens for example by rotating a lens turret (in machines where the distance between the negative plane, lens, and printing plane is constant), or alterations of the distance between negative plane, lens, and printing plane (in the case of machines having a fixed lens), alteration of the length of advance of the paper transport, changing, or varying the dimensions of, the positive mask, changing or altering the negative mask and possibly readjustment of the condenser optical system of the lighting system.

It has now been found that the alteration of these adjustments is a source of many errors in operation. If however only one of these adjustments is made wrongly, the resulting print is useless. This can usually be seen only when the exposed web of paper comes from the developing machine, which may take several hours and thus the entire production obtained during that period may be useless.

According to the present invention there is provided a photographic printing machine having a plurality of components defining an optical reproducing system for the production of a photographic positive from a photographic negative, each component being selectable in accordance with the size of positive and negative chosen, a control device for the reception of information regarding the actual components selected and information regarding the components desired to be selected, an electrical circuit for comparing information regarding the actual components and information regarding the desired components, and a safety device actuated by the control device upon an actual component being different from a desired component.

According to a further aspect of the present invention the control device may have a parallel group of primary contacts each of which is responsive to information received from a particular actual component, and a parallel group of secondary contacts, each of which is 3,292,485 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 responsive to information received for a particular desired component and is in series with an appropriate primary contact, the arrangement being such that the pri mary contacts break a contact only upon information received in respect of an actual component selected whilst the secondary contacts make a contact only upon information received in respect of a desired component, thus allowing the electrical circuit to be completed only when an actual component is different from a desired component.

Furthermore the desired secondary contacts can simultaneously be selected by a negative-positive size combination switch.

Through the measures of the invention the danger of incorrect adjustment is eliminated. The preselection of the desired negative-positive size combinations is preferably effected on a keying apparatus. The combinations of actual contacts and of desired contacts belonging to a particular adjustment are connected through a signal lamp to a source of electricity; this permits the immediate location of any faulty adjustment which may occur. For the purpose of controlling the interlocking device for the printing process, relays may be connected in parallel to the signal lamps; these relays may be replaced by a single relay if the individual switch circuits are decoupled by suitable means, such as diodes.

In a preferred method of putting the invention into effect, each adjustment is made by means of a servo motor, the exciter winding of which is connected in the corresponding adjustment circuit of the signal and/or interlocking device. Each adjustment is thereby automatically varied until its actual value coincides with the desired value, since only then is the supply of current to the exciter winding of the servo motor terminated.

The invention can be applied to all photographic printing machines of the specified type.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, embodiments thereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a simplified diagrammatic representation in perspective of a photographic printing machine having a safety device constructed according to the inv ntion;

FIGURE 2 a block diagram serving to explain a safety device of the invention more fully, and

FIGURE 3 a detailed wiring diagram of another embodiment of safety device.

Referring to FIGURE 1, light 2 emitted by a light source 1 is beamed by one of two condenser optical systems 3a or 3b and projected through a negative, held in a suitable negative holder 4a, 4b, or 4c, by way of an objective 5a, 5b or 5c and a corresponding positive mask 6a, 612, or 6c on to a strip 7 of printing material. The condenser optical systems, negative masks, objectives, and positive masks are respectively mounted on click stop discs 3, 4, 5 and 6 and can each at choice be swung into the path of the printing beam. A shaft 12a rotates to advance and take up the strip 7 of printing material. The rotational positions of the discs are scanned by means of switch elements in binary form, each of these switch elements being adapted to be operated by a respective shaft 8a, 911, 10a, and 11a which are mounted on their respective discs so as to rotate therewith. The aforesaid switch elements are accommodated in boxes 8, 9, 10, and 11, and consists of a cam disc and a number of electrical switch contacts corresponding to the number of possible positions of the disc. A box 12 on the shaft 12a also contains switch elements which are associated with box 11. The conditions of the individual switch contacts constitute actual values. These values are compared in a comparator circuit arrangement accommodated in box 13 With desired values, which are adjusted at choice on the basis of the possible size combinations by means of the positive-negative size selector switch 14 which is constructed as a group switch. If the actual value of any contact differs from its desired value, one or more signal lamps lights up in a signal device which is likewise contained in the box 13 and at the sockets 22 a control voltage can be taken, for example for interlocking purposes. This feature is described more fully below with reference to FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 2 (in which values are for example designated b, (open) and 3, (closed)), actual Values u, ar, ar 41 and [-17, 2 1: ar, 41 pp y the switch elements contained in boxes 8, 9, 10, and 11 are compared by means of gates 17a to 17d with the desired values a 11 61 a and a a (1 a respectively. If there should be a discrepancy between an actual value and a desired value, the gates 17a to 17d cause signal lamps 18a to 18d to light up and at the same time through an OR-gate 19 bring about a variation of the condition of a relay 20, through the make contact 21 of which the interlocking device can be operated.

The Wiring diagram of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3, is suitable for three possible size combinations, for example 24x36 mm. on 9x13 cm., 36x24 mm. on 9x6 cm., and 6x6 cm. on 9x9 cm. These three different enlargement sizes require three different focal lengths for the lens if a constant distance is assumed between the negative plane and the printing or paper plane. It will be assumed that a total of two condenser positions are sutficient for the optimum illumination of the negative planes.

With the combined paper size and transport adjustment of known type or in accordance of the type described in the specification of our copending Swiss patent application No. 3,155/63 (Case G236), three switches 31, 32, and 33 are coupled in such a manner that when the size 9x9 cm. is adjusted the switch 32 is opened while the other two switches 31 (size 9x13 cm.) and 33 (size 9x6 cm.) remain closed. Correspondingly the switch 34 (size 6x6 cm.), 35 (size 24x36 mm.) and 36 (size 36x24 mm.) are coupled to the negative masks, switch 37 (focal length f 38 (focal length f and 39 (focal length f are coupled to the objective disc, and switch 40 (position k of the condenser) and 41 (position k of the condenser) are coupled to the condenser. The arrangement illustrated is such that the element which is in operation at the time in question always opens its respective switch.

The desired size combination is adjusted on one of the three keys 42, 43,, or 44. Each of these keys operates a group of contacts 42a42d, 43a43d, and 44a44d respectively. In the embodiment illustrated the contacts (44a--44d) appertaining to the key (44) depressed at the time in question are closed, while the other contacts remain open.

If in the present case the paper size and transport adjustment had been incorrectly set at 9x6 cm. instead of 9x9 cm., that is to say if the switch 33 were opened and the switches 31 and 32 closed (see switch positions shown in broken lines in FIGURE 3), the circuit battery 54-contact 32-contact 44a-lamp 45-battery would be closed. At the same time current would also flow in the parallel circuit battery 54-diode 50-relay 49. The lamp 45 then signals an incorrect adjustment of the paper size and transport setting. The attracted relay 49 can be used to prevent the printing process.

The procedure is similar with the contacts 34, 35, and 36, associated with the negative mask, in combination with the size combination contacts 42b, 43b, and 44b, with the objective contacts 37, 38, and 39, and the size combination contacts 420, 43c, and 440, and also with the condenser contacts 40 and 41 and the size combination contacts 42d, 43d, and 44d. If any of these adjustments is incorrect, a corresponding lamp 46, 47, or 48 lights up.

Whenever an adjustment error occurs the same relay 49 always responds simultaneously with one (or more) of the lamps 45-48, this relay being connected through the diodes 5tl53, and interrupts the printing operation. Only the adjustment which has been notified as incorrect by the lighting up of one of the signal lamps 4548 need then be corrected in order to enable the printing operation to be carried out.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 3 works in accordance with the open circuit principle. It is however also completely possible to work on the closed circuit principle. For this purpose it is essentially merely necessary for the switching conditions of the contacts 31 to 41 and 42a-d, and 44a-d, associated with the individual adjustment positions, to be reversed, and for the circuit arrangement of the signalling and/ or interlocking device to be adapted accordingly.

It is naturally also entirely within the framework of the invention to utilise electronic, pneumatic, or hydraulic logical elements instead of the contact combinations described. The battery 54 is advantageously replaced by the main supply of the photographic printing machine.

Automatic error correction can be obtained, as indicated in FIGURE 1, by arranging for the individual discs 3-6 to be adjustable by means of respective servo motors 25, 26, 27, 28, while the exciter windings of these motors are connected in the wiring diagram shown in FIGURE 3 instead of or in parallel to the signal lamps 4548. When one of the keys 42, 43, or 44 of the size selector switch 14 is depressed, all those motors the discs of which are not yet in the correct position for this size combination will thus be energised. The driving motor 29 for the transport device and hence the amount of paper advance in each case are controlled in dependence on the rotational position of the positive mask disc 6. For this purpose use in preferably made of a control device of the type described in the specification of our aforesaid copending application.

What is claimed is:

1. In a photographic printing machine a light source, an optical condenser system, a multi-size negative masking means, an adjustable lens system, a multi-size positive masking means, a print material transport device, the multi-size positive masking means being arranged to define an image produced by the light source, the optical condenser system and the adjustable lens system from a negative held in the multi-size negative masking means, each component being selectable from a number of alternative elements in accordance with the size of positive and negative chosen, a control device for the reception of information regarding the actual components selected and information regarding the components desired to be selected, said control device having a parallel group of primary contacts each of whichis responsive to information received from a particular actual component, and a parallel group of secondary contacts, each of which is responsive to information received for a particular desired component and is in series with an appropriate primary contact, the arrangement having means breaking one of the primary contacts only upon information received in respect of an actual component selected whilst the secondary contacts make a contact only upon information received in respect of a desired component, and means completing an electrical circuit only when an actual component is different from a desired component.

2. In a photographic printing machine according to claim 1, wherein said parallel groups of first and second contacts being subdivided in electrical circuits each belonging to a particular component and each having in series signal means indicating that information received in respect of an actual component is inconsistent with information received in respect of a desired component.

3. In a photographic printing machine according to claim 2, wherein said electrical circuits each belonging to a particular component are connected together in parallel, such forming a two-pole electrical control device, and wherein the electrical circuit is completed by a circuit battery and relay means, said relay means controlling an interlocking device for interrupting the printing process when said control device is actuated.

4. In a photographic printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the desired secondary contacts being simultaneously selected by negative-positive size combination switches.

5. In a photographic printing machine according to claim 4, servo-motors for setting the optical condenser system, the multi-size negative masking means, the adjustable lens system and the multi-size positive masking means, wherein the exciter windings of said motors are respectively connected in the electrical circuits of the control device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,106,880 10/1963 Rossetto et a1 954.5

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. I RICHARD A. WINTERCORN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE A LIGHT SOURCE, AN OPTICAL CONDENSER SYSTEM, A MULTI-SIZE NEGATIVE MASKING MEANS, AN ADJUSTABLE LENS SYSTEM, A MULTI-SIZE POSITIVE MASKING MEANS, A PRINT MATERIAL TRANSPORT DEVICE, THE MULTI-SIZE POSITIVE MASKING MEANS BEING ARRANGED TO DEFINE AN IMAGE PRODUCED BY THE LIGHT SOURCE, THE OPTICAL CONDENSER SYSTEM AND THE ADJUSTABLE LENS SYSTEM FROM A NEGATIVE HELD IN THE MULTI-SIZE NEGATIVE MASKING MEANS, EACH COMPONENT BEING SELECTABLE FROM A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVE ELEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SIZE OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CHOSEN, A CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE RECEPTION OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE ACTUAL COMPONENTS SELECTED AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPONENTS DESIRED TO BE SELECTED, SAID CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A PARALLEL GROUP OF PRIMARY CONTACTS EACH OF WHICH IS RESPONSIVE TO INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM A PARTICULAR ACTUAL COMPONENT, AND A PARALLEL GROUP OF SECONDARY CONTACTS, EACH OF WHICH IS RESPONSIVE TO INFORMATION RECEIVED FOR A PARTICULAR DESIRED COMPONENT AND IS IN SERIES WITH AN APPROPRIATE 